Cranberry Spinach Salad with Creamy Citrus Dressing

This colorful Cranberry Spinach Salad and Creamy Citrus Dressing came from my mom and was a delightful hit at our family’s Christmas celebration.

Why Make Salad Dressing at Home?

There are several reasons why you might want to make homemade salad dressing at home.

1. Healthier Ingredients: When you make your own dressing, you have control over the ingredients. You can use high-quality oils, fresh herbs and spices, and avoid preservatives and additives that may be present in store-bought dressings.
2. Customizable: Making your own dressing allows you to customize the flavor and consistency. You can easily adjust the sweetness, tanginess, and spiciness to your preference.
3. Cost-Effective: Homemade salad dressings can be less expensive than store-bought versions, especially if you use ingredients that you already have on hand.
4. Freshness: Homemade salad dressings are always fresh and can be made in small batches, so you can avoid wasting any leftover dressing.
5. Sustainability: Making your own salad dressing can be a more sustainable option because you can reduce packaging waste and avoid buying products that require shipping and transportation.

Make sure to browse around our Top 10 Healthy Homemade Salad Dressings for more ideas.

The dressing is just about perfect in my estimation–citrusy, light, yet creamy-tasting. A simple mix of baby spinach, dried cranberries, feta or goat cheese crumbles, and some toasted pecans was complemented well by the Creamy Citrus Dressing. Honestly, this is my favorite kind of salad–one that is topped with fruit, some good cheese, toasted nuts, and an interesting dressing.

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I guess what I’m trying to say is that this is a darn good salad recipe that my mom passed on to me!

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★★★★★ 5 from 1 reviews

Spinach Cranberry Salad with Creamy Citrus Dressing

Spinach, dried cranberries, goat cheese, and toasted pecans are the perfect winter salad match for this light and delicious Creamy Citrus Dressing.

Yield: 4 large salads or 8 side salads 1x

Prep: 10 minutesCook: 0 minutesTotal: 10 minutes

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Units: USM

Scale: 1x2x3x

Ingredients

Creamy Citrus Dressing:

• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice, freshly squeezed
• 2 tablespoons orange juice, freshly squeezed
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1 teaspoon honey, plus more to taste
• 1/4 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves, chopped
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

Spinach Cranberry Salad:

• 8 cups baby spinach leaves, loosely packed
• 1/2 cup pecans, toasted and chopped
• 1/3 cup goat cheese or feta cheese, crumbled
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries

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Instructions

Creamy Citrus Dressing:

1. Pour all ingredients in a mason jar. Close lid tightly and shake until combined. Refrigerate for up to two weeks.

Spinach Cranberry Salad:

1. Toss all ingredients together. Voila!

Equipment

Zester

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Citrus Juicer

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© Author: Rachel Tiemeyer

Cuisine: American Method: Mix